On the viral video showing Will Smith slapping a Ukranian reporter who tried to kiss him: “I stay away from the entertainment gossip. I don’t want to slap anyone. Why would that happen? I would never want to hurt anyone.”

On how how the violent film was set during the celebration of Obama’s election: “It’s not a cynical look back as a statement of failure,” said Pitt, of the time period. “It speaks more to the toxic divide (in America). It’s a serious, serious problem.”

On how the upcoming election will be filled with negative advertisements: “I think it’s going to be rather ugly,” he said. “I don’t want this film to be mistaken as being part of that.”

On his children witnessing the violence in the film: “I would have a much harder time playing a racist, that would be much more upsetting to me,” he said. “We live in a violent world. I certainly grew up hunting which is such a violent act. For a hamburger, have you seen how they butcher cows? It’s barbaric. It’s horrendous. It’s very violent. This is the world we live in.”